After a terror attack takes place, questions are invariably raised about the lack of security arrangements at the site.
So, the residents of Ajmer are now asking, "Why wasn't there enough security at the shrine?" However, they do have a valid point, considering that the police have been aware of the dargah being a likely target for terrorists since 2003.
In 2003, several militants belonging to the dreaded outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba were arrested along the Rajasthan border when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan. During interrogations, it was found that the Ajmer dargah was on their list of targets.
Moreover, several detailed maps of the dargah were also found on them. These militants reportedly told the police that they were sent to India on a mission and they had also planned to target holy sites in Hyderabad and Delhi.
Another interesting fact is that the dargah has been included in the government's list of 'sensitive' religious places for the last two years. The Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, the Jama Masjid in Delhi, the Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi and the Akshardham temple have also been mentioned in the list..
More from rediff